Multi-purpose cover garment

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose garment cover comprising a generally rectangular body with a centrally disposed aperture. The rectangular body is a thin, flexible, waterproof structure sized to cover the entire upper body of a user when the multi-purpose garment cover is worn by the user. The aperture is defined by an arcuate shape at a first side and an angled shape at a second side. The aperture is the portion of the multi-purpose garment cover through which a user&#39;s head passes when the multi-purpose garment cover is put on or taken off by a user. The distinct shapes of the opposing first side and second side allow the aperture to be aligned on a user in a plurality of distinct positions on a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wearable utilities and, moreparticularly, to a multi-purpose cover garment for protecting a user'sclothing from spills.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As eating is a part of everyone's life, spilling food being eaten onone's clothing is something that touches everyone's life. Otheractivities, such as applying makeup, coloring hair, and cutting/stylinghair also commonly result in an individual staining or otherwise soilingtheir clothing in an undesirable manner. Many solutions to the threat ofstaining or soiling one's clothing often involve a placing some form oftemporary covering over clothing during certain activities. Bibs, acommon covering for the young and the elderly though not widely used bypeople of most ages, provide a basic form of protection which typicallyspans from the area beneath a wearer's chin vertically down to thewear's midsection. A problem which still exists, however, is that commoncoverings such as bibs fail to provide protection over a wearer's entireupper body. Furthermore, larger, more complete coverings, such as barbercapes, utilize fasteners which often makes it difficult for a user toput them on correctly without assistance. Thus, there remains a need fora multi-purpose cover garment which would provide cover a wearer'sentire upper body and protect it from staining or soiling while the userate or performed other activities. It would be helpful if such amulti-purpose cover garment eliminated the need for assistance to put oncorrectly. It would be additionally desirable for such a multi-purposecover garment to be foldable so as to be stored in a pocket sizedcontainer.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for cover garmentadapted to cover a user's entire upper body during activities which mayresult in staining or soiling of the user's clothing. The primarycomponents of Applicant's multi-purpose cover garment is a rectangularsheet having a centrally disposed aperture. When in operation, themulti-purpose cover garment allows a user put it on and align it bysimply sliding her head through the aperture and rotating it until theaperture is oriented in the desired location. As a result, many of thelimitations imposed prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-purpose garment cover for covering the upper body of a user andprotecting the user's clothing from staining or soiling during certainactivities. The multi-purpose garment cover comprises a generallyrectangular body with a centrally disposed aperture. The rectangularbody is constructed of a thin, flexible material which is impervious toliquids and can be folded in half a plurality of times. The rectangularbody is sized to cover the entire upper body of a user when themulti-purpose garment cover is worn by the user. As such, therectangular body provides a body means for covering. The aperture isdefined by its arcuate shape at a first side and its angled shape at itssecond side. The aperture is the portion of the multi-purpose garmentcover through which a user's head passes when the multi-purpose garmentcover is put on or taken off by a user. In this way, the aperture servesas a means for receiving a users head. The distinct shapes of theopposing first side and second side allow the aperture to be aligned ona user in a plurality of distinct positions on a user. In someembodiments, the rectangular body includes a collar portion which is afabric material adapted to add comfort to the area of the aperture whichtouches the user's skin. The collar portion thus provides a collar meansfor softening edges.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extension bar for amulti-purpose cover garment which would provide cover a wearer's entireupper body and protect it from staining or soiling while the user ate orperformed other activities.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose covergarment which eliminates the need for assistance to put on correctly.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a multi-purposecover garment which is foldable so as to be stored in a pocket sizedcontainer.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a multi-purpose garment coverbuilt in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a multi-purpose garment cover built inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, amulti-purpose garment cover 10 is shown having a generally rectangularbody 11 with a centrally disposed aperture 12. The rectangular body 11is constructed of a thin, flexible material which is impervious toliquids and can be folded in half a plurality of times. In oneembodiment, the rectangular body 11 can be folded in half seven times.The rectangular body 11 is sized to cover the entire upper body of auser when the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is worn by the user. Assuch, it is contemplated that the rectangular body 11 can be constructedin a plurality of sizes so as to be suitable to be worn by user's of allsizes.

The aperture 12 is defined by its arcuate shape at a first side 13 andits angled shape at its second side 14. The aperture 12 is the portionof the multi-purpose garment cover 10 through which a user's head passeswhen the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is put on by a user and is sizedto allow the user's head pass through to allow the rectangular body 11to rest on the user's shoulders. The distinct shapes of the opposingfirst side 13 and second side 14 allow the aperture 12 to be aligned ona user in a plurality of distinct positions and direct maximum coveragein a desired direction without requiring the multi-purpose garment cover10 to fit snugly around the entirety of the user's neck. In this regard,maximum the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is configured to providemaximum coverage to the area covered by the first side 13 and allow forsome ventilation and air flow to a user's neck and body by way of thesecond side 14. For example, when a user desires to use themulti-purpose garment cover 10 while eating or breastfeeding, the userwill align the multi-purpose garment cover 10 so that the first side 13is under the user's chin, directing maximum coverage toward the front ofthe user's body while still allowing for some ventilation and air flowat the back of the user's neck. In contrast, when a user desires to usethe multi-purpose garment cover 10 while coloring, cutting, or stylingtheir hair, the user will align the multi-purpose garment cover 10 sothat the first side 13 is at the back of the user's neck or one of thesides of the user's neck, depending on where on the head the coloring,cutting, or styling is taking place. It is understood that as themulti-purpose garment cover 10 is constructed in a plurality of sizes soas to be suitable to be worn by user's of all sizes, the aperture 12will vary in size (but not in shape) to allow for different size headsto fit.

In one embodiment, the rectangular body 11 includes a collar portion 15around the aperture. The collar portion 15 is a fabric material adaptedto soften the edges so as to add comfort to the area of the aperture 12which touches the user's skin.

It is understood that the multi-purpose garment cover 10 can also serveas a substitute for jackets or overcoats due to its nature as awaterproof upper body cover.

It is contemplated that the multi-purpose garment cover 10 can alsoserve as a privacy cover for nursing mothers or others desiring to coverportions of their upper body while in public. When nursing, the aperture12 can be aligned with the front side next to the baby to reduce oreliminate the risk of suffocation.

It is further contemplated that by not having any fasteners, slits,compartments (such as a hood portion) or aperture for other limbs, themulti-purpose garment cover 10 is adapted to be easier to put on andtake off than know structures.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-purpose garment cover, comprising a coverbody having a centrally disposed head aperture sized to allow a humanuser's head pass through to allow the cover body to rest on the user'sshoulders, said head aperture defined by a first side having an arcuateshape and a second side having an angled shape.
 2. The multi-purposegarment cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is defined by arectangular shape.
 3. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 1,wherein the cover body is constructed of a thin, flexible material. 4.The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 3, wherein the material ofwhich the cover body is constructed is adapted to be able to fold inhalf at least seven times.
 5. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim1, wherein the cover body includes a collar portion defined as a fabricmaterial which is adapted to soften the edges of the area of the headaperture which touches the user's skin.
 6. The multi-purpose garmentcover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is free from any fasteners,slits, compartments (such as a hood portion) or apertures other thansaid head aperture.
 7. A multi-purpose garment cover, comprising a bodymeans for covering having a means for receiving a users head.
 8. Themulti-purpose garment cover of claim 7, wherein the body means forcovering includes a collar means for softening edges.